Slack-time heating system for blood and fluid warming

Abstract

Presented herein are various systems, methods, and apparatuses for heating infusate by an induction heater e.g., an electromagnetic heater, and storing thermal energy in a reservoir of thusly heated infusate. In certain embodiments, a system includes a reservoir for containing an infusate, a fluid heater, a diversion valve, a patient line, and a recirculation line.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for heating an infusate, the system comprising:
 a reservoir for containing an infusate; 
 an induction fluid heater comprising a circular single flow path therewithin; 
 a diversion valve; 
 a patient line; and 
 a recirculation line,
 wherein the induction fluid heater comprises an inlet to receive the infusate from the reservoir and to direct the infusate to the circular single flow path, 
 wherein the induction fluid heater comprises an outlet to direct a heated infusate from the circular single flow path into the patient line and/or the recirculation line, 
 wherein the diversion valve operates to direct the heated infusate from the induction fluid heater into the patient line and/or the recirculation line, said diversion valve controlling a ratio of a flow in the patient line to a flow in the recirculation line, 
 wherein the patient line directs the heated infusate to a patient, and 
 wherein the recirculation line directs the heated infusate to the reservoir, so that the system increases a temperature of the infusate in the reservoir. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the induction fluid heater receives electric power via an AC wall outlet or a battery. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bubble trap for removing air bubbles from the infusate flowing through the system. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature detectors positioned for simultaneous detection of one or more temperature of the infusate. 
     
     
       5. A method for heating an infusate, the method comprising:
 heating an inlet infusate via an induction fluid heater comprising a circular single flow path therewithin, wherein the induction fluid heater comprises an inlet to receive the inlet infusate from a reservoir and to direct the inlet infusate to the circular single flow path, and the induction fluid heater comprises an outlet to receive an outlet infusate from the circular single flow path; 
 directing the outlet infusate into a patient line and/or a recirculation line, the outlet infusate flowing from the outlet of the induction fluid heater; 
 providing the outlet infusate to a patient though the patient line when the outlet infusate is directed therethrough, and 
 directing the outlet infusate to the reservoir though the recirculation line when the outlet infusate is directed therethrough, thereby providing heat to the infusate contained in the reservoir. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein temperature of the outlet infusate is higher than a temperature of the inlet infusate. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising measuring a temperature of the inlet infusate, the inlet infusate flowing to the induction fluid heater from the reservoir. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising mixing the infusate from the recirculation line and the infusate stored in the reservoir. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising controlling a ratio of a flow in the patient line to a flow in the recirculation line.